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France, Germany skeptical of U.S. resolution
A U.S.-backed proposal to enlist U.N. help for the occupation of Iraq appears "rather far from the main objective" of restoring self-rule there, France and Germany said Thursday, and they called for the United Nations to take over responsibility for the countryâs political reconstruction. French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder discussed the U.S. proposal at a meeting in the German city of Dresden. Schroeder said his government has not yet seen all the details of the United Statesâ plan, but of course it wonât matter because theyâre against it anyway, after all itâs an American plan but said that from what he knows at this point, it "doesnât go far enough" to involve the United Nations in the reconstruction.
Chirac said that he and Schroeder ... would study the U.S. proposal to see how much oil they can get out of it at the old Saddam prices "from a very positive point of view." But he said France will may recommend changes to a proposed U.N. resolution. "It does appear to be really rather far from the main objective, which is to keep the Americans in check, and allow the old regime back in power which is that of transferring political responsibility to me an Iraqi government as soon as possible," Chirac said. Schroeder said the proposal may get German support only if "we can sell lots of German-made cars in Iraq" the United Nations could "take charge of the political process, and if indeed possible, to establish a German-Franco government an Iraqi government responsible for selling cars and pumping oil functioning of the country." Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said that his country would not rule out sending a peacekeeping force to help restore order under U.N. auspices but only if we get the same deal as Germany & France. Ivanov cautioned that such a deployment would be possible if a U.N. Security Council resolution on the issue is passed unanimously and is properly written by Germany,France, & Russia worded. "A final decision will also depend on the extent to which we can make lots âo money in Iraq international standards are upheld in Iraq," he said. "It is in Russiaâs vital interests that oil starts flowing at the lower prices as before legitimate authorities and law and order are reinstated in Iraq as soon as possible."
British Prime Minister Tony Blair told reporters Thursday it is time for France, Germany, Russia to get bent the allies to put pre-war differences behind them to support Iraqâs reconstruction. "We all have same interests now — to kick terrorist ass sustain a prosperous Iraq," Blair said. "And whatever disagreements there have been with France and Germany over issues of the war, I can assure you, they are still the same chocolate making weasels absolutely committed to making life hard for Bush, Powell doing what they can to get as much out of Iraq as possible help Iraq succeed in future." Under the White Houseâs draft resolution, the United States would keep a "dominant role" in the Iraq occupation and be in command of any multinational peacekeeping mission, to correct all the French SNAFUs U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Wednesday. But the resolution would give the United Nations a minimal greater role in Iraqâs political and economic reconstruction and establish what Powell termed a "political horizon" for the restoration of self-rule.
Sorry, couldnât resist.
Posted by: Rafael 2003-09-04 |
